Celebration of Christmas 2015
Welcome to BBC Radio Oxford s Celebration of Christmas. We are delighted that you have been able to join us for this special evening in St Mary the Virgin Church. Originally built in the mid-13 th century the building has welcomed many generations of worshippers from in and around Thame. Today the church is home to the Christian family at the heart of the local community; you ll hear more about the building and the people of the town throughout the service. Our service tonight is being recorded for broadcast at 8am on Sunday 20 th December and at 9am on Christmas Day please tell your friends! I do hope you ll enjoy this evening s service and will feel filled with festive spirit, but I also hope you ll take a moment during the evening to consider those less fortunate. This year, BBC Radio Oxford s Sox Appeal aims to distribute fresh pairs of socks to Oxfordshire s homeless at the coldest and bitterest time of year. It s a small gesture but is a reminder that even something as simple as a pair of socks can make a real difference. I do hope you ll be able to support us in making the appeal a success. Finally, I d like to offer my thanks to everyone who has supported us to make tonight possible. From the whole team at BBC Radio Oxford, we would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Will Banks, Editor, BBC Radio Oxford
Winter from Vivaldi s Four Seasons Sarah Goss Welcome Bidding and Prayers Revd Graham Choldcroft God of stable, stars and surprises, of light and hope and new life: open our eyes and hearts to your presence in our world; forgive our obsession with possessions; forgive our compromises and narrowness of vision. Open us anew to your grace, that we might hear again the song of the angels, and respond with a song in our hearts, and in our lives. Amen
O Little Town of Bethlehem O little town of Bethlehem How still we see thee lie Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight For Christ is born of Mary And gathered all above While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love O morning stars together Proclaim the holy birth And praises sing to God the King And Peace to men on earth How silently, how silently The wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heaven. No ear may hear His coming, But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him still, The dear Christ enters in. O holy Child of Bethlehem Descend to us, we pray Cast out our sin and enter in Be born to us today We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell O come to us, abide with us Our Lord Emmanuel
Bible Reading Isiah 11.1-10 BBC Radio Oxford s Al Ryan Silent Night Oxford Gospel Events Choir Bible Reading Micah 5.2-5a Cllr Nichola Dixon, The Mayor of Thame Leanabh An Àigh The combined choirs of St Mary s and St Catherine s churches & Sarah Goss In the Bleak Midwinter In the bleak mid-winter Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter Long ago. Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him Nor earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away When He comes to reign: In the bleak mid-winter A stable-place sufficed The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ. Cont
Enough for Him, whom cherubim Worship night and day, A breastful of milk And a mangerful of hay; Enough for Him, whom angels Fall down before, The ox and ass and camel Which adore. Angels and archangels May have gathered there, Cherubim and seraphim Thronged the air, But only His mother1 In her maiden bliss, Worshipped the Beloved With a kiss. What can I give Him, Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb, If I were a wise man I would do my part, Yet what I can I give Him, Give my heart. Bible Reading Luke 2.1-7 BBC Radio Oxford s Christine Wallace Calypso Lullaby The combined choirs of St Mary s and St Catherine s churches
Bible Reading Luke 2.1-7 BBC Radio Oxford s Christine Wallace Calypso Lullaby The combined church choirs of St Mary s and Barley Hill First Noël The First Noel, the Angels did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay In fields where they lay keeping their sheep On a cold winter's night that was so deep. They looked up and saw a star Shining in the East beyond them far And to the earth it gave great light And so it continued both day and night. And by the light of that same star Three Wise men came from country far To seek for a King was their intent And to follow the star wherever it went. This star drew nigh to the northwest O'er Bethlehem it took its rest And there it did both Pause and stay Right o'er the place where Jesus lay. Cont
Then entered in those Wise men three Full reverently upon their knee And offered there in His presence Their gold and myrrh and frankincense. Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heavenly Lord That hath made Heaven and earth of nought And with his blood mankind has bought. I Saw Three Ships Sarah Goss Bible Reading Luke 2.8-16 The Right Reverend William Kenney CP, the Bishop of Midica Ding Dong Merrily on High Ding dong merrily on high, In heav'n the bells are ringing: Ding dong! verily the sky Is riv'n with angel singing. Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! E'en so here below, below, Let steeple bells be swungen, And "Io, io, io!" By priest and people sungen. Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! Cont
Pray you, dutifully prime Your matin chime, ye ringers; May you beautifully rime Your evetime song, ye singers. Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! Joy to the World Oxford Gospel Events Choir Address & Lord s Prayer The Rt Revd Colin Fletcher OBE, the Bishop of Dorchester and Acting Bishop Oxford Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done; On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen
O Come All Ye Faithful O Come All Ye Faithful Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him, Born the King of Angels; Christ the Lord. O Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, Sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word. Give to our Father glory in the Highest; Christ the Lord. All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning, O Jesus! For evermore be Thy name adored. Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing; Christ the Lord. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Sarah Goss Voluntary Organist, Richard Coulson